The Winds of Change are Blowing

For the first time in several years, record numbers of Americans cast their ballots to steer the world's greatest power in a "new direction," seeing in Senator Barack Obama (D-Ill.) the change they so desperately sought. While assuming the presidency of the United States will be a relatively small step for Sen. Obama, it is a giant leap forward for America, putting our racially divided past far behind. Breaking down barriers and capturing imaginations, he soared to the White House with support from virtually every corner of our nation.

With Obama confidently in control, his party also made gains in Congress. Although Democrats fell shy of the 60-seat majority needed to make the Senate filibuster-proof, Democrats won 18 races to the Republicans' 13. Four are still undecided. Of the 11 Senate "True Bluers" who voted 100% of the time on family issues, it was a relief to see that only two lost, Sens. Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) and John Sununu (R-N.H.). The Democrats also expanded their majority in the House, winning 255 seats, including 20 that were previously Republican. There, the "True Blue" casualties were also costly but not catastrophic. Of the 104 pro-family stalwarts, just seven lost, Reps. Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.), Tom Feeney (R-Fla.), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), Thelma Drake (R-Va.), Ric Keller (R-Fla.), Tim Walberg (R-Mich.) and Bill Sali (R-Idaho).

While conservatives will miss these principled voices, we could have lost more. What I have seen and what the exit polling appears to confirm is that this election was driven by the economy and a loss of confidence in the GOP. Despite what some may claim, the nation is not lurching to the left socially. In exit polling commissioned by FRC, voters were asked where "moral values" ranked in their list of priorities. Back in 2004, 22% of voters rated moral issues as their first priority when voting. Yesterday, in the midst of the greatest economic challenge in over two generations 20% of voters still cited "moral issues" as their first or second priority. Trust me, the issues we care about and those who care about them are not going away.

Source: FRC